Clothespin



Z. FONVILLE.

CLOTHESPIN.

APPLICATIDN FILED MN. 3. 1920.

1,367,181. Peteneed Feb. 1,1921.

[im gl y UNITED STATES P-TENT OFFICE.

.,zoLnrcoFFEn FoNVILLE, or RALE'GH, `zionali: encarna.

` onorirzisrrrrf` Be it known that I, ZoLLrooFrnR FoNvILLm a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Raleigh in the county of Wake and State of North arolina, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Clothespins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in clothes pins of that type in which a pair ofjaws are held in a normally closed position by means of a spring.

It is the object of this device to provide a spring bridle of simple and elliclent constructlon by means of which the jaw members are heldin clamping relation.

In the accompanying drawing forming `part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a top elevation of my improved clothes in.

Fig. 2 is a si e elevation thereof, and,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the spring bridle.

A pair of clamping jaws 1 substantially rectangular in cross section are each provided near their end with confronting transverse recesses forming an ovalrecess 2 for engagement with a clothes line. At the opposite end of these clamping jaws the inner surfaces are outwardly tapered to form the handle portion 3. Transverse slots 4 and 4f are provided across the exposed faces of the clamping jaws at dia-metrically opposite points.

The spring bridle is preferably formed of a single piece of resilient wire formed so as to constitute a straight intermediate portion 5 which is interposed between the clamping 'aws where it acts as a fulcrum for the same.

arallel arms 6` and `6' extend at right angles to this intermediate portion for engagement with opposlte sides of said clam ing pieces and terminate in inwardly 1- rected portions 7 and 7 for engagement with slots 4 and 4 on the outer surfaces of the clamping members, thus presentin smooth unobstructed sides which prevent injuryto clothes or other garments. Rearwardly extending portions 8 and 8 are bent substantially at right angles to members 7 and 7 and parallel to side engaging members 6 and 6 and engage opposite sides of the clamping aws. j l In assembling the device the tapered end 3 of one clampin jaw is inserted between the cross members and 7 and is moved rearwardly and above the intermediate portion p j VSpecification of Letters"Patent.` A i .Patented Feb. if. 1921;

` Application.inediranuary a, 1920. sria11w.a49,14a."

5 until the `cross piece 7 engages slot 4. The

tapered end* `of the* other then inserted between the underside of the other clamping piece and the cross piece 7 and forced rearwardly under intermediate portlon 5 until inwardly pro'ectin cross plece 7 engages slot 4. It will be o served that the formation of this spring bridle in the manner described forms a central por` t10n to act as a fulcrum for the movement of the clampingjaws and also provides top and side engaging members which tend to hold the jaws in a normally closed position `and which are so disposed as to prevent any lateral dlsplacement of the two clamping jaws with respect to each other.

j There is an important feature to be observed in connection with the formation of the spring bridle in the manner above speci lied. Itis almost universally the practice to employ coils of various descriptions for producing the spring tension which normall holds-the jaws in a closed position. In thls respect, this "clothes pin` is distinctive. The intermediate orbridge` portion 5 not only acts as a fulcrum as stated above, but hecomes the spring for closing the jaws when put under a twisting or torsional `strain when the jaws are opened.

When it is desired to fasten clothes on a line the clamping members are grasped at their oppositely tapered ends and are pressed lnwardly thus forcing the clamping ends `apart against the tension of the spring `bridle and permitting the en agement of the clothes line. As soon as t ev pressure `on clamping jaw is ends 3 `is released the bridle forces theV clamping ends together thus gripping the garment and clothes line. In order to `remove the pin it is only necessary to exert an inward pressure on ends 3 of the clamping jaws thus opening the opposite ends and at Vthe same time pull upward on the clothes clamping eWs and a Wire so mounted therebetween to Kict as the fulcruin and spring for holding the jawsin closed position, the lettei'Y by Virtue of the twisting strain created therein when the jews are seperated.

A `clothes pin comprising a pair of jaws, end a Wire' bridle with ends secured including a single strand between-the j aws, forming a fulcrum and exerting spring tenlsion when rthe jewsv arel opened and said strand is put under atorsional strain.

n A clothes pin comprising e pair of jaws, clamplng means composed of :L Wne bent 1n substantiell one )lane into ny rec- .tangular forni with free ends overlapping 15 'and to be respectively secured to the jews,

the side of the rectangular form opposite seid overlapping ends constituting the fulcruin and spring for the clothes pin when put under torsionel strain by the separation 20 of said Jfree ends.

ZOLLICOFFER FONVILLE. 

